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Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Home visit

We've just been on our first trip home to UK..... Well not really sure where home is now, I guess we're really lucky in that we now call 2 countries home. This was a real surprise that after just 5 months in Singapore we can now in all truthfulness call it home. It is a relief what a smooth transition it was. In all the moves I have made before it has usually taken me 18 months to feel at home (if at all) so returning to the UK to visit family it has surprised me that I've can now call Singapore home.

Had a lovely and lively 2 weeks visiting in-laws in Sutton Coldferld, mother in Norfolk and the 3 kids in Bristol and of course my gorgeous dog Oscar, whom we left behind with our eldest son and daughter. After these two weeks I now need to go on a strict diet and return to my daily walking regime and shed some of these extra pounds after all the meals out. Think I could compile a blog of British pub/restaurant food in UK after all the examples we sampled!!!!

Oscar dog taking up residence on my lap soon after my arrival!

The weather in UK was good thankfully and I didn't have to change out of my normal "Sing uniform" of shirts and t shirt apart from a few occasions! But have to say did miss the intense heat which is "good for my old bones"!!!! What was good to experience was the "seasons" Its coming to the end of the summer in UK and its getting to autumn (my favourite of the seasons) this is when I get the urge to start gathering, storing and making goodies to keep for the coming winter. In singapore there are no seasons just a slight couple of degrees change in temperature and just a different time of day to expect the rain if any.

Who would of thought after 40+ years living and holidaying in the UK (apart from a couple of years in Germany when my sons were young ) that I would find the move to the other side of the world so easy. Singapore has really proved an interesting, welcoming country, full of places to visit and the list just seems to keep getting longer. Its feels like a permanant holiday, with that sense of freedom you get from holidays, where you feel you can accomplish anything and be someone new.

It's been a great couple of weeks lovely to catch up with family, friends and dog but have to be honest I am also looking toward to getting back to my "other home" I'll miss Autumn - the crisp mornings, the chilly evenings, dressing up in woollies and going for long walks and will miss a proper Christmas, which will surprise my friends who are used to my "bah humbug" comments from the end of Summer onwards, especially when the Xmas ads start on the tv so early and the Xmas stock appears in stores in September! but I guess I'm already remembering through rose-tinted glasses. However I'm looking forward to weather that can be relied on, the normal dress code is shorts, t'shirt, sunglasses and umbrella!! Looking forward to discovering new places in Singapore, new food and traveling to new places I only dreamt of going whilst in UK.

I shall look forward to the family visiting and sharing with them as much as we can in the short time they'll be out with us. By the end of this year one son and my daughter will have visited. The in-laws have booked for beginning of next year and our other son has plans to visit as well. I already have a long list of places for them to see.

I intend to make the most of my "new home" but look forward to visiting the "other home" on our next trip to the UK in another year . How much will it and myself have changed by then I wonder?

Sutton Coldfield

This restaurant in the centre of Birmingham made us smile. The sign is in the design of the Singapore Post office and Bugis Street is an area not to far away from where we live in SG. The food was all the "favourites" of Singapore - Laksa, chili crab, Char kway Teow, black pepper beef etc. Have made a note of this to try on another visit.

Norfolk -

I have already posted some photos of this already on post PHOTOS: Sheringham, Norfolk. However just to say the North Norfolk coast line and road from Cromer along to Hunstanton on a clear sunny day is absolutely stunning.

Bristol

Bristol is currently invaded by 80 large fibreglass Gromit statues ( Gromits unleashed) for further info http://www.gromitunleashed.org.uk we just happened to pop into the city without realising this was happening. It was great to see the place so full with families, the young and the not so young following the trail and collecting and "ticking off" Gromits when they were found. Good old fashioned entertainment :) Below are just a few of those we spotted on our hour long visit